The annual Knox Public Lecture is an important date in the calendar of Catholic Theological College. It commemorates the life and ministry of the founder of The College, the late James Robert Cardinal Knox, fifth Archbishop of Melbourne.

James Robert Knox was Archbishop of Melbourne from 1967 to 1974. As Archbishop he had a grand vision for theological education in Melbourne, which led to the formation of a significant Catholic theological faculty dedicated to the education not only of future priests but also of religious and laity. This educational institute would take its place in the wider Christian and civil context as part of the Melbourne College of Divinity (now University of Divinity).

This vision is embodied today in Catholic Theological College and it is through the Knox Lecture that the College acknowledges its great debt to James Knox.

The Knox Lecture has been offered annually from 1978 and has been presented by eminent speakers, including Rev. Prof. Denis Edwards in 2017. For a full list of Knox Public Lecture Speakers please click on link below.